h o p e f u l || 充满希望 ||

Six months have passed since everyone saw the shadow of the lofty princess, Su Lan Yue. Her courtyard was tightly shut, and only a few maids have entered yet either of them have seen their mistress. It was as if Su Lan Yue have dissapeared into thin air.

Lu Jing felt her scalp itching, while concubine Fa Chenqui was delighted, in any case, her missing in action caused a lot of mixed reaction from both the NPC and some of the players in Han nation. Some speculated, that Su Lan Yue was in a seclusion and that she holds a deep storyline that once unlocked will lead to someone's victory. Others said that the mean spirited princess ran away from home, to see the world. Upon reaching the ears of the person in question, she let out a laugh that quickly brought tears in her eyes.

'Why would this princess run away when life is good here.'

However the former do have a slight hit, as she was in seclusion in order to cultivate the Su cultivation technique the Vermillion requiem. She glance at her reflection on the water below her and saw some slight changes in her face. Staying inside the cave of quilin for months have made her skin much paler than before, her hair was a tied into a knot with only a lotus pin holding it making her bearing more elegant and the color of her hair has changed into a deep shade of red. A characteristic of a child born onto the Su Family.

By cultivating inside the cave of quilin that was rich in heavenly essence, Su Lan Yue never stopped absorbing them and that would go on days if her father never drag her out for martial arts training.

Su Hong was ruthless in training as he had thought that if he wishes his daughter to be strong he would have to harden his heart for a bit. But everytime he saw tears welling up in his daughters eyes from the harsh training he wish he could comfort her and apologize, hence each time that would happen he would freeze in his spot, daring not to move an inch or everything he done for the past days would be all for naught.

Su Lan Yue on the other hand was filled with regret as to why she put herself in such torture. Aside from the cruel teachings of her father, absorbing heavenly essence was no easy feat. The body must be clean with no sight of earthly impurities, thus when begin to absorb, the backlash was to hard for her to bear the first time that she fainted dead away. Su Hong have to carry her home and have some of maids care for her, and would check every hour if she was okay. After a few more tries in cultivating, Su Lan Yue body have slightly adjusted and was able to cultivate much longer than the last. Everyday she would push herself to the limits only to faint and have her father grimace at his daughter disposition.

Dear daughter, why are you pushing your self so hard?

That question keeps haunting Su Hong to ask Su Lan Yue but he kept his mouth shut, and just continue on.

Stretching her arms Su Lan Yue jumped from the gigantic rock inside the giant lake on the quilin caves. She landed softly on the water creating a ripple. She let out a deep sigh—she was still a noob compare to her father who could walk to the water without disturbing it, as only heavenly cultivators could do it, but its already been six months with only slight improvements, she would immediately lose if she were to fight some players on a higher tier. This is no good at all.

Checking her current character status Su Lan Yue begin brainstorming as what she can do to improve her state. She thought of going to the Winter gold auction house to buy some precious treasure but that was useless, after all the place she was cultivating was a priceless treasure that her dear mother left for her.

The cave of Quilin can't be found on the map of the Han nation as its place is in the Su residence, specifically the courtyard of Su Lan Yue, where in her bedroom stood a magnificent landscape painting called Cave of Quilin. The painting itself is a independent space of its own, and has its only law that is similar to the upper heavens. Leaving the painting Su Lan Yue appeared in her courtyard and called some of the maids to prepare her bath. Lu jing upon hearing that the second miss have returned instantly obeyed the tasked at hand. Carefully checking if the water temperature was warm enough for Su Lan Yue, Lu Jing placed some white lotus petals on the silver bathtub. She quickly then arrange some essential oils, and some soaps, and lotion that is within hand reach of Su Lan Yue as she doesn't like anyone serving her at bath. Lu Jing was meticulous at her job, as she want to leave a favourable attention to the young miss. She then took the red pearl, a perfume that was gifted to Su Lan Yue by the Emperor on her 15th birthday. The red pearl was extremely rare that only the empress dowager and Su Lan Yue have used it.

With light steps, Su Lan Yue entered the bath and watched with a slight lifted eyebrows as she watched the maid carrying her precious perfume.

'Why is she running around in the bath? Isn't she afraid to drop such treasure?'

And as if Lu Jing was jinxed by her mistress she slipped and drop the precious red pearl. With a loud crash the bottle broke into pieces and the red liquid slowly dyed the floor. The room was eerily quite, as Lu Jing dared not to move as she slowly contemplated her life. Her mouth was pressed into a thin line and her soul slowly leaving her body.

'I'm fucked'

Acting annoyed Su Lan Yue called for the servants. "Take this made out and whip some elegance in her bones. She dares to destroy the perfume that Royal Uncle gave to me." Her voice was soft, but because she was now a cultivator it sounded doimeering that the servants who rushed in immediately kneeled and kowtow.

Lu Jing also begged for forgiveness and pleaded for mercy. This was not good. She hasn't even made any progress inside the game except learning some menial chores. She can't die now.

Su Lan Yue was clearly amused by the ever shifting expression of Lu Jing, as it reminded her of Biyu, the little rabbit at the game menu. Her eyes soften, and her lips tugged upward. If one didn't know her they would think that her smile was pure, and holy but she had a reputation of a ruthless lady and so her smile was thought to be twisted and downright cruel, which made some of the servants plead for mercy for Lu Jing as that girl was kind, and would often help them in times of need so this time they wanted to return the favour.

"Please have mercy on Lu Jing, second miss."

"Oh? And who gave you the courage to speak to me like that?" The player inside Su Lan Yue was enjoying the scene and how it played out, after all she was in seclusion and never have gotten to play after such a long time, so she was in the mood to screw some people up.

The servant who spoke gulped down the salvia on his throat. As the domineering presence of the second miss increased. Stuttering he forced himself to speak.

"M—mis, this servant is willing to receive half the punishment of Lu Jing."

"So am i miss."

"Me too."

"This servant also volunteer."

The voices of the servants soon followed suit. They soon felt confident that the beating would hurt only a little and that they could help the crying and distress Lu Jing, who was touched by the servants acts. Actually she only helped them because connections is important as that what her parents taught her. If she only knew that they would try to save her from the impeding doom named Su Lan Yue she would have given her all. The amused expression on Su Lan Yue had already faded and was replace by a scowl. To think that the lass named Lu Jing would have an ability to charm some servants in the house that they were willing to suffer some for her. Her soft eyes narrowed dangerously before she turned around and drag Lu Jing out of the bath.

"So be it. Each of you shall receive twenty beatings from the cane." She glanced at Lu Jing who looked fragile and dainty as a flower.

'Ah so no wonder everyone was captivated by her. She was a good white lotus.'

The servant faces lift up. The second young miss must have felt pity and compassion for Lu Jing that she decided to spare her.

"—But the red pearl was still a priceless treasure,therefore after everyone has receive their beatings, death would await to everyone who is in this courtyard." Everyone went cold as Lu Jing fainted. She thought she have escape death but she should have known that Su Lan Yue was heartless and ruthless.